So yesterday after the speedy drives through the countrysides s, we were back at the Hubmer home. We all slipped out of our church clothes and waited for Johannes and his family to do the same. After they were also ready, we all walked over to this restaurant for some drinks:
The restaurant is about 400 yds from their home. There were some otherpeople from the neighborhood there and I got to meet the owner and his wife, Brigeta. I had a Steigr beer and also Brigeta brought some pasteries with currants in them. Wonderful! I think I have found a new favorite dessert.Next we came back to the house where Peggy and I pulverized Uncle Franz and Carl in two games of Bocci. No, actually, the men won, by a landslide, but we blame it on the lumpy front yard.
Then Johannes and the boys came back, and asked if I may want to join them in going to an Irish pub in downtown Steyr. So we soon sped off. When I heard the list of beers, I had to try a Kronenberg for his truly. It was a great atmosphere and a fun time, though since the drinking age is 16 and not very strictly enforced, I felt very tall and old. We also got to drink outside, where conversation replaced music, which was great that for once my voice could be heard at a bar.
This morning I was SO tired, but I managed to stay awake for the carride with Uncle Franz and the boys to Salzburg. It's a wonderful city but first we stopped at the castle and gardens of Helbrunn.
The gardens surrounding the castle were built at the same time, in 1612. The Schloss Helbrunn was built as a summer residence, but soon lent itself to much more than a typical palace and attracted the attention of many. Prince Archbishop Marcus Sittikus was obsessed with the unusual. In addition to paintings of 8 legged horses and statues of unicorns, he also created the Wasserspiele (trick fountains). Above is situated in the water and spews many streams from the figures. I like this one in particular because I like the expression the top one gives after getting slugged by the littler one.
Here at the beginning of the tour is where our group watched some volunteers sit at the outdoor eating table. The man in front realized he would get wet so he took his shirt off. The archsbishop would invite guests over for a meal outdoors. The table is huge and in the center is a pocket where cold water would keep wine chilled. He would sit at the head of the table, and with an indication to his workers, his guests would be spritzed with water below the seats and of course his chair was the only one that was not figured into the plan.
Along a walkway to the gardens were these tiny waterpowered figurines. They were encapsulated in stone and moss.
Inside one of the rooms was another waterpowered item, this time a mask. When the water filled his mouth, his jaw and a very large, almost George Winslow sized tongue would drop. Additionally, the eyes would roll back. Inside the castle was a room that showed the original sketches of the gardens and revealed all its trickery. The insides of the mask were also reproduced to show how it moved. The mask in the gardens stood under the statue of Poseidon, the god of the sea.
Here in another room was gold crown that fluttered under water pressure. It was to symbolize the rise and fall of power.
I liked the back and forth motion of these turtles. They continuously spat a single stream of water from each others mouths.
Inside the dining room was this kitchen stove. It was not originally from the castle, but was modified to fit the archsbishop's taste.
"a divine power unites even opposites" There are the goat and lion embracing.
This room also featured beautifully painted walls and an even more beautiful ceiling fresco. The archbishop had a huge interest in music as well, dedicating his "octagon room" to opera performers. The shape of the room also lent itself to be a performance hall for his entertainment.
Here I am in Mirabel Gardens in Salizburg. Behind me at the tippy top of the mountain is Hohensalzburg, a very large fortress. You might also recognize the garden as the place where the Do a Deer song took place in the Sound of Music. But this was news for me.
On our walk through Salzburg we passed Mozart's birthplace.
After lunch, which was extraordinary (pork chops, bacon bits and saukraut, and a dumpling), we walked through this large center where we found this upside down helicopter. For what reason it was there, we're still scratching our heads. Behind it is a stage with a large telescreen where the final world cup game was going to be shown. Beside it were some food stands getting prepared, and also some bleacher stands.
We went inside two cathderals while in Salzburg. The first was St. Peter's, built in conjunction with the cloisters, and the St Peter's Restaurant we ate in, in 803. It was almost chilling to step foot in something almost 6 times older than our country (and in the same week as our country's celebration) The cemetary was also breathtaking: graves ranged from 2006 to every year in between. But pictured above is the altar in the Cathedral of Salzburg. The building has a huge dome on the top with many windows, but still my picture is very dark.
This cafe, Cafe Tomaselli, is the oldest one in Salzburg. Its first business dates back to 1705.
Here is Danny "spritzing" water at Randy in one of the giant fountains near the cafe.
Right down the street from the cafe was also this piece of art. Not only do I like the roof half chisled in between the two other buildings, but I like the artist's sense of humor.
Down the next street, which was very commercial and crowded with tourists, there was a statue lady. I like this because the word "statue" is played with. Randy gave some money to her cup and she bowed down to thank and then went back to being a statue.
After that we took a much more scenic route home, passing many lakes along the way. We also stopped in the town of Bad Ischl. Compared with Salzburg, where there are many more young people due to the uniersity (where Uncle Franz and Aunt Gerry met), this town had many more elderly people. Uncle Franz explained that the water there is very good for you, and they frequent the spas, some even wind up staying on to make a home.
We went to a cafe there where I had a greatl apricot cake and a strong cup of coffee. The coffees, I have noticed, come very frothy, have the usual condiments, but also come with a small cup of water, to use before and then again after drinking it.
Afterwards, although it looked like it was going to rain, it held off and we ate again outside. Tonight we had pork and a weiner, and also Grandpa made his famous watermelon basket, cutting the watermelon out from the center and dicing it, and then fringing the hollow fruit with triangle shapes, and then sticking the watermelon, and some grapes back in it.
I think we now all wish that it had in fact rained. Unfortunately, after dinner, we began to hear a popping sound, like firecrackers, in the distance. It didn't cease to stop, and we soon saw smoke. Daniel rode his bike down towards it and I followed shortly after on foot. A huge combined farmhouse/barn building about half a mile away was on fire.
The smoke attracted alot of attention and people were soon lined up on the top of the hill overlooking the scene. A neighbor had been down near it when it had first started, so he and some others helped haul out a john deere tractor from the barn, but there was not much else others could do. Uncle Franz thinks that the hay inside it may have been too dry. Many firetrucks bombarded the small neighborhood but for a time it looked like they might not have enough water to put it out. It really hurt me to see this sight because so far, Austria has been like taking my favorite days in any place, combining them, and then magnifying the total experience 10 times.
But not to end on a depressing note. Italy won the world cup, and tomorrow we're leaving for Vienna! We're spending the night, too, so I will have many many things to write about next. :) Goodnight, Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are.
No comments:
Post a Comment